PhD position: Dr Fan Liu

Nowadays astronomers have detected more than 5000 exoplanets with ground and space telescopes. However, it is still under debate whether these planets imprint chemical signatures onto their host stars and whether the potential planet signatures can be associated with the diversity of planetary properties (e.g. mass, radius, orbit, formation and dynamical history etc.). The main goal of this project is to search for and test the potential chemical signatures of planets with different types (e.g. cool or hot Jupiters, super-Earth etc.) using existing high quality spectra of planet-hosting stars. This project aims to analyse and examine the pattern of chemical abundances of key elements (e.g. refractory elements Fe, Ti, Al, Sc; volatile elements C, O, S; Li, K and Eu) with high precision. These elements can help probe and establish the connection between stars and their planets. The pattern of elemental abundances of our targeting stars will then be compared with theoretical models of planet formation and engulfment (i.e. stars swallowing their planets), which will help us better understand whether and how these different planets can influence their hosting stars. The results are expected to shed light on the potential scenarios of planet events.

• "Search for chemical signatures of planets "

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For further details or alternative project arrangements, please contact: [email protected].